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Man jailed 18 years after victim waits over two decades for justice

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 18:29 · Archive

Andrew Grierson, 65, has been jailed for 18 years for sexually abusing a child in Wilmslow between 1996 and 2004, after his victim waited more than 20 years for prosecution.

Andrew Grierson, 65, of McCormack Drive, Wigan, was sentenced to 18 years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, 11 November, after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing a child in Wilmslow between 1996 and 2004.

Concerns about Grierson's behaviour were first raised with Children's Social Care in 1998. However, due to lack of evidence, the matter was closed without any police investigation. Six years later, in 2004, the victim reported the abuse to police herself. Grierson was arrested and interviewed but denied the allegations. The case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, but charges were not authorised and he was released without charge.

In 2011, the victim contacted police again and provided a detailed account of the abuse. Despite this, the case was closed once more following a decision not to seek further Crown Prosecution Service advice. The victim approached Cheshire Police again ten years later, requesting that her case be reopened.

Detective Sergeant Claire Miles conducted a full review of the investigation and made the decision to reopen it. Grierson was interviewed again in December 2021 in relation to the allegations and denied the offences put to him. He was subsequently charged. Following a seven-day trial at Chester Crown Court, the jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and five counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14.

Detective Superintendent Dave Worthington of Cheshire Police said: 'As a child, Grierson's victim was sadly let down by several organisations, including Cheshire Police.' Detective Sergeant Claire Miles acknowledged 'the victim's remarkable bravery and tenacity in her pursuit of justice'.

Man jailed 18 years after victim waits over two decades for justice
Image: Chester Standard

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In this story: Andrew Grierson · Cheshire Police · Crown Prosecution Service · Chester Crown Court · Wilmslow · Wigan

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